Flexible diaphragm clothes washer

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a top loading automatic washing machine with a clothes tub having a flexible bottom, preferably molded of a synthetic rubber material, that includes on its outside face a plurality of integral wedge-like cams which cooperate with rotatively driven cam followers to lift and drop the flexible bottom as the cam followers traverse the path of the cams. This motion is permitted by the inherent resiliency of the bottom and produces a turbulent washing action in the water supported therein. The cam followers are driven by a shaft connected to a reversible motor so that reversal of the followers places them in a driving relationship with abrupt shoulders on the cams to drive the clothes tub in a high speed centrifuging operation. The space immediately under the flexible bottom and in which the integral cams and cam followers reside is enclosed by a bottom pan which supports a track and oppositely facing similar cam surfaces upon which the cam followers ride to provide additional lift to the flexible bottom. The enclosed volume between the bottom pan and the flexible bottom of the tub can either be open to ambient pressure to accommodate the changes in volume in this space as the diaphragm is raised and lowered or can be sealed to permit pressurization of this volume in a manner to affect the degree of agitation induced by the cams.

Gorsuch 111 3,807,201 1451 Apr. 30, 1974 FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM CLOTHESWASHER V [75] Inventor: Harold-F. Gorsuch, Mansfield, Ohio [73]Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 318,797

4/1967 Bentov. 68/190 x Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Attorney,Agent, or FirmF. A. -Winans 571 7 ABSTRACT The invention provides a toploading automatic washing machine with a clothes tub having a flexiblebottom, preferably molded of a synthetic rubber material, that includeson its outside face a plurality of integral wedge-like cams whichcooperate with rotatively driven cam followers to lift and drop theflexible bottom as the cam followers traverse the path of the cams. Thismotion is permitted by the inherent resiliency of the bottom andproduces a turbulent washing action in the water supported therein. Thecam followers are'driven by a shaft connected to a reversible motor sothat reversal of the followers places them in a driving relationshipwith abrupt shoulders on the cams to drive the clothes tub in a highspeed centrifuging operation. The space immediately under the flexiblebottom and in which the integral cams and cam followers reside isenclosed by a bottom pan which supports a track and oppositely facingsimilar cam surfaces upon which the cam followers ride to provideadditional lift to the flexible bottom. The enclosed volume between thebottom pan and the flexible bottom of the tub can either be open toambient pressure to accommodate the changes in volume in this space asthe diaphragm is raised and lowered or can be sealed to permitpressurization of this volume in a manner to affect the degree ofagitation induced by the cams.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmmmm o m4 330?.201

SHEET 3 OF A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM CLOTHES WASHER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the'lnvention This invention relates to a toploading automatic washing machine having a reversible motor capable ofimparting in one direction an agitation mode of operation and in theopposite direction a spin-centrifuging operation. More particularly, inthis machine the agitation is attained through repeated flexure of aflexible. bottom of the clothes tub of the machine, imparted by rotatinga cam follower immediately adjacent the undersurface of the flexiblebottom and in the path of lifting cams to cause the flexible member tobe stretched upwardly. The cam members have an abrupt terminal shoulderwhich drops the cam follower and'thus the flexible bottom to completethe upward and downward agitation stroke. Driving the motor in thereverse direction causes the cam follower to engage the terminalshoulder on the cams, in a driving relationshipto spin the clothestub ina centrifuging operation.

DESCRIPTION 'OF THE PRIOR ART Most top-loading automatic washersutilizing a reversible motor for selectively imparting an agitationoperation or a spin-dry centrifuging operation require a rather heavyand expensive transmission primarily used to change the continuousrotative motion of the motor shaft to short oscillating or reciprocatingstrokes of an agitator structure disposed within the clothes tub. Such awashing machine is commonly referred to as a center-post agitator andhas earned general acceptance because of its inherent features includingease of loading and readily apparent agitation of the clothes. Further,the to-and-fro motion of the agitator does not.

have the same tendency to bunch the clothes as unidirectional agitationsuch as is found in the common tumbler washer or in a top loadingwash'er having a continuously rotating impeller agitator. However, thetransmission requiredby an oscillating agitator of the type described isquite heavy and expensive, adding substantially to the cost of thewasher, in addition to effecting the overall stability, of the machine,especially when operating in the spin mode. Further, the agitator itselfis in contact with the clothes in the basket so that in addition toimparting turbulence to the water, which mainly contributes to thewashing action, causes wear of the clothes and, in the-process, produceslint which preferably is removed from the wash water.

Therefore, it is obviously beneficial to agitatethe clothes and washwater in a manner that provides turbulencetherein without directlycontacting the clothes.

Prior patents such as (1.8. Pat. Nos. 2,203,479 and.

2,499,162 disclose a clothes tub having at least one flexible wall andmeans for externally flexing this wall to impart agitation. However,neither of the above pa-' tents discloses an automatic washing machinein the sense that they permit a spin dry centrifuging operation also.The present inventionutilizes a flexible wall and SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION tioned between the flexible bottom and the platform and areconnected to the shaft through a hinge permitting vertical movement ofthe arm relative to the shaft. The outer end of each arm terminates in apair of rolling cam followers, each respectively on a radius coincidentwith the wedge cams. The driven shaft is operatively connected to adrive shaft of a reversible motor, and, when driven in a direction suchthat the rolling cam followers ride on the inclined surface of thewedge-shaped cams, cause the arms and flexible bottom to be raised to anelevated position at that point. Once the cam followersreach the end ofthe cam they drop to the platform permitting the bottom to return to itsnormal position. The intermittent rising and falling of opposite areason-the bottom flexible member imparts an agitating turbulence to thewater within the tub. Conversely, driving the cam followers in theopposite direction causes themto contact an abrupt terminal shoulder onappropriate wedge cams in a driving relationship whereby thetub,including the platform, is driven in the spin dry mode. A space formedbetween the flexible bottom and the platform can be vented to atmosphereto maintain it at substantially constant pressure as the volume-changesor, can be pressurized ,over a range of pressures to affect the degreeof agitation induced.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a washing machineincorporating the invention with parts in cross section and parts brokenaway for clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the flexible bottom of theinvention in raised position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom of the clothes tub with parts brokenaway;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of part of the bottom showing the opposingcams and the cam follower; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The washing machine of thepresent invention resembles in many respects the well known center-postagitator washing machine such as shown for instance in US. Pat. No.3,475,928 in that it includes'an outer cabinet or housing 12 having atop member 14 defining an access opening and hingedly supporting doorstructure 16. As in the center-post agitator washer, the housingenclosesan outer generally stationarily supported tub 18 mounted forlimited pivotal movement about a contoured bearing surface 20, formed inthe bottom pan 22 of the housing, as by a plurality of struts 24 (onlyone being shown) having one end welded to the outer tub and the otherend attached to a contoured plate member 26 in facing relationship tothe bearing surface and separated therefrom by a strip of frictionalmaterial 28. Stabilizing springs 30 are attached between the struts andthe bottom pan 22 to resiliently maintain the structure supported by thestruts in a generally centered upright position. A rotatable clothes tub32 is disposed within the stationary tub 18 on a common axis andincludes an upper cylindrical wrapper 34 having a plurality of aperturestherein and a lower pan 36 attached to the upper wrapper as throughmating peripheral flanges 38 secured together as through a plurality ofbolts.

In addition to supporting the outer tub 18, the struts 24 also supportbracket members 40 (only one being shown) which in turn support a baseplate 42. A single speed reversing motor 44 is attached to the baseplate 42 with the motor shaft 46 in a generally vertical orientation anddriving a pulley 48v mounted on one end .of the motor shaft and areversible water pump 50 secured to the opposite end of the motor.

The washing machine is automatically controlled through a timermechanism 52 to operate through a complete washing cycle as is wellknown in the art .and-

which includes an agitation mode of operation wherein the clothes andwater contained in the clothes tub are agitated by operation of themotor in one direction and a spin dry operation wherein reversal of themotor drives the clothes tub in a high speed spin to centrifuge thewater from the clothes.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2-5 to describe the' particulardrive means for imparting the agitation mode and the spin dry mode ofoperation to the clothes is drivingly attached to the lower end of driveshaft 64 in alignment with the drive pulley 48 on the drive motor 44 forreceiving a V belt to transmit the drive from the motor to the pulley66. The upper end of the drive shaft 64 is drivingly engaged by a drivenhub 68 disposed within the rotatable clothes tub as will be fullyexplainedlater. I

The lower end of the stub shaft 60 is drivingly engaged by a collarmember 70 whose periphery is concentric with the adjacent reducedperiphery of the stationary hub 54. An LGSclutch spring 72 engages theconcentric peripheral surfaces of the hub 54 and the collar memberv 70respectively and terminates in an inwardly directed tang 73 received inan appropriate ap-, erture in the stationary hub for a purpose that willbe more fully. disclosed. The upper end of the stub shaft 60 drivinglyengages a spinner hub 74 which in turn is attached through a sealingengagement to the bottom 36 of the clothes tub 32 as by bolts 76. Inthis manner, when the pulley member 66 is rotated in a direction toimpart a wash mode to the clothes tub (in a direction as shown by arrowsin FIG. 4) the rotation is directly transmitted to rotatable hub 68through the drive shaft 64. As the rotatable tub 32 is drivingly engagedby the stub shaft which in turn is drivingly engaged by the collar 70,any tendency of the tub 32 to rotate in the direction of the rotatablehub 68 is prevented by the LGS spring clutch which is attached betweenthe stationary hub 54 and the collar in a manner that prevents anyrelative movement between the two in this direction. Thus the LGS spring72 acts as a brake on the tub 32 when the pulley member 66 is rotated ina direction to impart clockwise rotation of the rotatable hub-68 asviewed in FIG. 4. However, the well known LGS spring clutch permitsopposite relative rotational movement of the collar 70 with respect tothe stationary hub 54 such that when the driven pulley 66 is rotated inthe opposite direction the rotatable hub 68 is again directly drivenhowever the rotatable tub 32 is then free to also rotate in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4.

- Still referring primarily to FIG. 2, it is seen that the rotatableclothes tub 32 includes a diaphragm member 78 preferably molded of asuitable plastic or rubber and sealingly attached around its peripheraledge to the sides of thetub 32 as by engagement between the mat ingflanges 38 of the cylindrical wall 34 of the tub and the bottom pan 36.The rotatable hub 68 is disposed within this space defined between'thebottom pan 36 and the diaphragm 38 and hingedly supports diametri-Cally-opposed radiating arms 80 (only one being completely shown) which,at the distal end, rotatively supports two cam following roller members82, 84. A bearing plate 86 is stationarily attached to the underside oftheldiaphragm 78 immediately above the rotatable hub 68 (as bycementing) to prevent wear on the diaphragm as the hub rotates. I

The surface of the diaphragm 78 facing the bottom pan 36 has a pair ofdiametrically opposed integrally molded arcuate cams 88 having awedge-shaped profile and radially disposed so as to be concentric withthe path of the'radially outermost roller members84. Also,

the remaining area of the diaphragm in the arcuate path of the rollermembers 84 has an increased thickness, as at 90, to accommodate wearwhere the diaphragm 78 is contactedby the roller 84.

A pair of diametrically opposed similar arcuate cams 92 are securelyattached on the bottom pan 36 as by being integrally molded on anannular track 94 having a radius concentric with the radially innermostroller 32 as by cementing the collar to the pan. The relative positionand profile of the cams can be best seen with reference to FIG. 5wherein it is clearly shown that both the radially outermost diaphragm.cam 88 and the innermost cam 92 secured to the vpan have increasingheight in the same direction and terminating in generally adjacentabrupt shoulders 96, 98 respectively. However, it is apparent theshoulders 98 on the pan cam is slightly angularly displaced beyond theshoulder 96 of the diaphragm cam for a reason to be discussed later.

Other details of the construction which have a specific purpose to beexplained in the Description of Operation include a pad member 100 onthe pan immediately under each shoulder of the diaphragm cam 88,

and a breather hole 102 throughout the length of the drive shaft 64terminating in a groove 104 in the drive hub 68'so that the volumedefined by the diaphragm 7 8 and the bottom pan 36 is open to ambientair pressure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION As previously stated, the automaticcomplete washing cycle of the washing machine includes at least anagitation or wash mode and an extraction or spin mode as controlled'bythe timer and determined by the direction of operation of the motor 44.Thus, assuming the motor is energized to run in a clockwise direction asviewed from above, the driven pulley member 66 is also driven'in theclockwise direction. The clothes tub 32 is prevented from moving in thatdirection by the LGS spring clutch as previously explained and thereforethe tub 32 remains stationary while the driven hub 68 rotates and inturn drives the radial arms 80 in the direction of the wash arrow ofFIG. 4.

This direction of rotation of the radial arms 80 causes the rollers 82,84 to approach the cams 88, 92 in a direction so as to contact the wedgeface associated with each respective roller. Thus, inner roller 82 willcontact cam 92 and ride up its surface. This causes outer roller 84 tobegin lifting the diaphragm 78 and upon the outer roller contacting theouter cam 88, induces a substantial lift, ultimately flexing thediaphragm upwardly to the extreme distended position shown in FIG. 3.Further, rotation of the arms 80 beyond this point causes the outerroller 84 to pass the shoulder 96 of the outer cam 88 permitting thediaphragm 78 to suddenly drop an initial distance so that the outerroller 84 is again riding on the thickened annular area 90 of thediaphragm. Further continued rotation of the arms results in innerroller 82 passing the abrupt shoulder 98 of the cam 92, whereupon thearms 80 drop so that the inner roller 82 strikes the annular collar. 94and the diaphragm drops the remaining distance causing the outer cam 88to strike the pad 100 on the pan 36. Thus, the pad 100 acts somewhatlike a shock absorber but more importantly deadens the sound of the cam88 striking the pan 36. The annular collar 94 provides the same effectfor the-inner roller 82 in that it dampens the sound of the roller as it'runs on the pan plus deadens the sound when the roller drops from theinner cam 92 to the pan.

The induced sudden rise and abrupt fall of the flexible bottom diaphragm78 of the tub 32 produces violent turbulent action in the water withinthe tub so that the clothes can be washed when the motion is present.

Reversing the direction of the motor 44 causes the hub 68 and thereforethe direction of the arms 80 and rollers 82, 84 to reverse. Also, as haspreviously been explained, the LGS spring clutch 72 releases the tub 32in this reverse direction so the tub is free to spin.

Therefore, the rollers 82, when reversed, contact the abrupt shoulders98 of the inner cam 92. It is noted that the abrupt shoulders 96 of theouter cam 88 are not contacted in that they are recessed somewhat fromthe shoulders of the inner cam as previously explained. The

rollers 82 positively engagethe abrupt shoulders 98 of the inner cams 92and provide a driving engagement with the tub 32 without any torque ortwist being placed on the flexible diaphragm 78 because of the inabilityof the roller 84 to contact shoulder 96. In-this manner, the tub 32 isdriven at a relatively high rate of speed to centrifuge water fromclothes contained therein.

-a positive pressure (greater than ambient) within the volume defined bythe diaphragm and the bottom pan 36.

Referring to FIG. 6, a modified form of the invention is shown whichpermits pressurization of this volume. For this purpose a bellows member104 is sealingly secured to the lower end of shaft 64 as by a clamp 106,with the opposite end of the bellows 104 being closed but supporting abearing 106. Also a pilot rod 108 extends from this closed end to bereceived in a guide column 110 attached to the bearing plate 26 tomaintain thebellows in proper vertical alignment. A lever arm 112pivotally supported on a bracket 114 extending from a strut 24 has oneend 116 abutting the closed end of the bellows and the other end 118connected to a control rod 120 extending to the exterior of the housingfor manipulation thereof.

Thus, pushing down on the control rod 120 would compress the bellowsmember 104 pressurizing the air in the volume between the pan and theflexible bottom and, depending on the volume of the bellows, elevatingthe flexible bottom a certain amount. The amount lifted by thepressurized air would decrease the amplitude of the flexing of thediaphragm between its extreme up position and its lowermost position andin turn reduce the degree of agitation induced by the cam followers. Itis apparent that pressurization of this volume to an extreme position ofelevating the cams on the flexible bottom to a position such that theyare not contacted by the cam followers would eliminate any agitation.Thus, through the drive arrangement described and by virtue of theflexible diaphragm, rotation of the motor in one direction provides anagitation or wash mode and rotation of the motor in the oppositedirection provides a spin dry operation with both operations beingdirectly driven from the motor without the use of the heretoforenecessary transmission.

I claim as my invention:

1. An automatic washing machine includinga clothes containing tub havinga flexible bottom wall and drive means for selectively imparting eitheran agitation mode of operation or a spin dry mode of operation toclothes within said tub, said drive means including a reversible motorand means operatively connected thereto for flexing said flexible bottomwall when said tend and release said flexible bottom wall to impart saidagitation mode of operation. I

3. Structure according to claim 2 wherein said stationary cam meansdefine an inclined face for lifting 'said cam follower means when saidmeans are rotated 4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein saidflexible bottom wall is preferably molded of a resilient material andincludes integrally molded cam members in generally opposed facingrelationship to said cam means on said pan and defining a generallysimilarly shaped profile in the path of said rotating cam follower meansfor providing increased distention of said flexible bottom wall as saidcarn follower means lift said integrally molded cam members when rotatedin said one direction.

5. Structure according to claim '4 wherein said means drivingly couplingsaid rotatable cam follower to said reversible motor includes a driveshaft driven by said motor and hub structure drivingly connected to saidshaft, and said cam follower means includes arms hingedly connected atone end to said hub structure permitting verticalrotational movement ofsaid arms with respect to said hub structure, said arms extendinggenerally radially from said hub structure and supporting at the distalend rollers for engaging the respective surfaces of said cam means andcam members.

6. In an automatic washing machine having an outer generally stationarywater retaining tub; a concentric rotatable inner tub; drive means forselectively driving saidmachine through various modes of operationincluding a washing mode and a spin dry mode; wherein the improvementcomprises:

said inner tub comprising a flexible bottom wall; and,

said drive means comprises; a reversible motor;

wedge-shaped cam means attached to said rotatable tub and disposedsubadjacent said flexible wall and defining an inclined surfaceterminating in an abrupt shoulder; and,

rotatable cam follower means operatively driven by said drive means in apath traversing said cam means whereby,

rotation of said cam follower means in one direction causes said camfollower means to be cammed to a first positiondeforming said flexiblewall and drop to a second position releasing said flexible wall toimpart a turbulent washing action in the water within said inner tub,and rotation of said cam follower means in a reverse direction causessaid cam follower means to drivingly engage said cam means and therebyrotate said tub in a spin dry mode. g 7. Structure according to claim 6wherein said drive means includes means for frictionally engaging saidtub to prevent its rotation when said cam follower means are rotated inone direction and releasing said tub for rotation when said cam followermeans are rotated in said reverse direction.

8. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said inner tub includes abottom pan member subadjacent said flexible bottom wall for supportingsaid wedge-shaped cam means and defining a generally closed chamberbetween said bottom wall and said pan member.

9. Structure according to claim 8 wherein said drive means includes adrive shaft drivingly coupled to said reversible motor and connected toa hub structure within said closed chamber, said hub structure drivinglyconnected to said cam followermeans also disposed within said chamber,said drive shaft defining an air passageway having one end open to saidchamber and the otherend open exteriorly of said chamber to accommodateingress and egress of air from said chamber as the volume of saidchamber varies as said bottom wall flexes.

10. Structure according to claim 9 including means on said drive shaftcooperating with said exteriorly open end of said air passage forpressurizing the air within said chamber, said means for pressurizingsaid air being selectively manually operable from exteriorly of saidwashing machine.

1. An automatic washing machine including a clothes containing tubhaving a flexible bottom wall and drive means for selectively impartingeither an agitation mode of operation or a spin dry mode of operation toclothes within said tub, said drive means including a reversible motorand means operatively connected thereto for flexing said flexible bottomwall when said motor is rotated in one direction and rotating said tubwhen said motor is rotated in the opposite direction.
 2. Structureaccording to claim 1 wherein said drive means includes stationary cammeans and rotatable cam follower means disposed sub-adjacent saidflexible bottom wall and means drivingly coupling said rotatable camfollower means to said reversible motor, whereby rotation of said camfollower means by said motor in one direction causes said cam followersmeans to traverse the path of said cam means in accordance with theprofile of said cam means and alternately distend and release saidflexible bottom wall to impart said agitation mode of operation. 3.Structure according to claim 2 wherein said stationary cam means definean inclined face for lifting said cam follower means when said means arerotated in said one direction, with said cam means terminating in anabrupt shoulder, and said drive means further includes a pan memberattached to said rotatable tub and supporting said cam meanssub-adjacent said flexible bottom wall and brake means for frictionallyengaging said pan member for preventing rotation of said tub when saidcam follower means are rotated in said one direction and releasing saidtub to permit rotation thereof when said cam follower means are rotatedin an opposite direction so as to engage said abrupt shoulder of saidcam means.
 4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said flexiblebottom wall is preferably molded of a resilient material and includesintegrally molded cam members in generally opposed facing relationshipto said cam means on said pan and defining a generally similarly shapedprofile in the path of said rotating cam follower means for providingincreased distention of said flexible bottom wall as said cam followermeans lift said integrally molded cam members when rotated in said onedirection.
 5. Structure according to claim 4 wherein said meansdrivingly coupling said rotatable cam follower to said reversible motorincludes a drive shaft driven by said motor and hub structure drivinglyconnected to said shaft, and said cam follower means includes armshingedly connected at one end to said hub structure permitting verticalrotational movement of said arms with respect to said hub structure,said arms extending generally radially from said hub structure andsupporting at the distal end rollers for engaging the respectivesurfaces of said cam means and cam members.
 6. In an automatic washingmachine having an outer generally stationary water retaining tub; aconcentric rotatable inner tub; drive means for sElectively driving saidmachine through various modes of operation including a washing mode anda spin dry mode; wherein the improvement comprises: said inner tubcomprising a flexible bottom wall; and, said drive means comprises; areversible motor; wedge-shaped cam means attached to said rotatable tuband disposed subadjacent said flexible wall and defining an inclinedsurface terminating in an abrupt shoulder; and, rotatable cam followermeans operatively driven by said drive means in a path traversing saidcam means whereby, rotation of said cam follower means in one directioncauses said cam follower means to be cammed to a first positiondeforming said flexible wall and drop to a second position releasingsaid flexible wall to impart a turbulent washing action in the waterwithin said inner tub, and rotation of said cam follower means in areverse direction causes said cam follower means to drivingly engagesaid cam means and thereby rotate said tub in a spin dry mode. 7.Structure according to claim 6 wherein said drive means includes meansfor frictionally engaging said tub to prevent its rotation when said camfollower means are rotated in one direction and releasing said tub forrotation when said cam follower means are rotated in said reversedirection.
 8. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said inner tubincludes a bottom pan member subadjacent said flexible bottom wall forsupporting said wedge-shaped cam means and defining a generally closedchamber between said bottom wall and said pan member.
 9. Structureaccording to claim 8 wherein said drive means includes a drive shaftdrivingly coupled to said reversible motor and connected to a hubstructure within said closed chamber, said hub structure drivinglyconnected to said cam follower means also disposed within said chamber,said drive shaft defining an air passageway having one end open to saidchamber and the other end open exteriorly of said chamber to accommodateingress and egress of air from said chamber as the volume of saidchamber varies as said bottom wall flexes.
 10. Structure according toclaim 9 including means on said drive shaft cooperating with saidexteriorly open end of said air passage for pressurizing the air withinsaid chamber, said means for pressurizing said air being selectivelymanually operable from exteriorly of said washing machine.